Which Devon beaches allow barbecues?

Where you can and can't light up to get the sand amongst your sausages

Here’s what the councils have to say as to whether you can sizzle sausages on its beaches (or not). Before you light up your barbecue, you should make sure that there are no restrictions in place at your chosen location (see below).

Set up your barbecue well away from other people so they are not affected by the smoke or smells produced. Make sure the barbecue is flat. Sand under a barbecue can hold enough heat to burn you for a short time after the barbecue has been removed, so please be considerate to other beach users and don’t leave an unattended hazard.

Cover food to discourage seagulls from trying to steal it. Douse the barbecue with water when you have finished – making sure that it is out and cold, and dispose of it as well as all your litter in a suitable bin.”

East Devon

East Devon District Council says: “Barbecues are allowed on our beaches but must be removed when finished and disposed of carefully. Please don’t place them in plastic litter bins. You are not allowed to light an open fire on the beach."

Part of The Maer, Exmouth and Lime Kiln, Budleigh Salterton have barbecue sites available on a first-come first-served basis.

Among the beaches that you can have a barbecue on are Budleigh Salterton, Seaton, Beer, Sidmouth and Exmouth

South Devon

Coryton, Teignmouth Town, The Ness and Dawlish Town Beach, Teignmouth Back Beach, Boat Cove, Red Rock Beach  Holcombe and Shaldon River Beach all permit barbecue.

However, Dawlish Warren doesn't, as a bye-law bans them.

In Torbay, there are more than 20 beaches and secluded coves along a 22-mile stretch from Torquay to Paignton to Brixham.

The council’s website states though that beach users should ‘only use barbecues within the designated area’, although no further information is provided as to the specifics of that.

In the South Hams, barbecues are allowed on the five beaches that the council’s owns, provided that: all litter is cleared away afterwards (including BBQ ash), there is no amplified music, the barbecue takes place away from local houses, the barbecue finishes by 10.30pm, you seek any other consents you need including notifying the parish council for the area, it is a small gathering rather than a large event which would need additional permissions.

They are Slapton Sands, Salcombe North, Salcombe South and small sections of Sugary Cove, Bovisand and Beesands.

For every other beach in the district though there are no beach owners in the South Hams that specify that they allow barbecues so, in theory, permission should always be sought.

A council spokesman said: “However, that’s not to say that barbecues don’t take place without permission as some ownership is unknown or it’s not possible to reach the owner or people don’t know they need to get permission.

“If someone were to take the decision to have a barbecue without permission we would recommend that it takes place outside of the busiest times and away from other beach users and local houses..”

There are some beaches in the South Hams though in which barbecues are prohibited.

At Blackpool Sands, barbecues are not to be lit until after 5pm in the main summer months to ensure that other beach users are not affected, and then not on grassy areas. The entire unit must be taken home including the ash and charcoal remains. Similar restrictions also apply at Challaborough .

Barbecues are banned at the beaches at: Crownhill Bay, Wonwell, Mothecome, Lannacombe, beaches of East Portlemouth (Fishermans Cove, Mill Bay, Sunny Cove).

North Devon

The beaches owned by North Devon Council in Ilfracombe, Wildersmouth and Lynton, the council doesn’t have any restrictions with regards to barbecues but they are ‘ask that people act responsibly and safely, take into account other beach users and remove the barbecue and any rubbish from the beach when they leave’.

The only beach owned by Torridge District Council is at Westward Ho!, and a council spokesman said that: “We don’t permit barbecues there.”

All other beaches are under private ownership and it is unclear whether barbecues are allowed on the beaches.